Recycling: The real cost of contamination
How much do we really understand about the process of recycling? With attitudes ranging from the obsessive to the ambivalent when it comes to our waste products, it’s time to lift the lid on the cost of contamination.
How is recycling contaminated?
Even if you are passionate about recycling your waste, the alarming lack of transparency around recycling practices means that well-meaning households are inadvertently guilty of contamination. WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) report that in the last year, around 525,000 tonnes of recycling was rejected due to contamination.
Unfortunately, this is not limited to just an unwashed container. It’s true that food residue, grease, and water can render entire batches of cardboard, paper, plastic, and even glass unrecyclable. So where are we going wrong? Here are some of the main issues:
- Containment. Putting your recycling inside a plastic bag.
- Food waste. Grease on cardboard, unrinsed jars, residue in containers. Any recycling with food residue is likely to end up in landfill.
- The ‘wrong’ plastics. Unfortunately, many plastics still aren’t recyclable and including them in your household recycling can contaminate the process.
- Wrong materials. Putting glass in with plastic, or paper with glass, etc.
- Hazardous waste. This can be either non-biological, for example; paint, pesticides, oils, or biological, such as nappies, sanitary products, and syringes.
Impact of recycling contamination on the environment.
Currently, it is estimated that 525, 000 tonnes of recyclable materials are rejected due to contamination every year. This figure is just from household waste alone. That’s over half a million tonnes of recycling going to landfill or an incinerator. With the UK alone generating this much waste, it’s a bleak outlook when considering the whole of the developed world.
The cost of recycling contamination to the council
The LGA (Local Government Association) estimates that contaminated recycling costs councils around £93 per tonne (rates will vary between councils). Using this figure, it’s estimated that the additional cost of contamination is around £48 million per year.
Besides monetary cost, contaminated recycling can put employees at recycling centres at risk and can negate the efforts of other households who are being as diligent as possible about their waste disposal.
Step it up!
The good news is that you can make small yet meaningful changes to reduce the amount of recycling going to landfill. As well as making sure that your recycling is correctly sorted and washed, you can demand better from your local council.
Cuts to council budgets over the last decade seem to have had a profound effect on the process as a whole. Organisations such as the LGA, WRAP and SUEZ have all highlighted the need for clear communications around the quality of recycling. You can email your MP to highlight this issue or raise awareness in your community
It’s also worth noting that WRAP has stressed that ultimately, the biggest change must come from manufacturers themselves. Cllr David Renard, the Environment spokesperson for the LGA, said:
“At a time when councils are working towards achieving net zero, they are doing so with one hand tied behind their back courtesy of manufacturers who are littering our communities with plastic they know cannot be disposed of sustainably.”
It’s time that manufacturers take responsibility for their produce and this will happen by customers voting with their feet. With more and more eco swaps becoming available, larger-scale manufacturers will have to adapt and respond.
How to effectively recycle your Truthpaste Jar
Did you know that one of the worst culprits for contamination is toothpaste tubes? This was part of the inspiration behind us using our cute little jars. Not only are they easy to clean but glass is can be recycled infinitely. Find out more of the benefits of recycling glass.
Always make sure that your glass is cleaned thoroughly if you are putting it in with your glass recycling. The lids and labels can be left on jars when you recycle them, so it really couldn’t be easier to be greener.
Resources
Gate fees report (2019/2020) Comparing the costs of alternative waste treatment options
WRAP [Accessed Sep 2021]
Robyn White (June 2021)https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/wrap-unveils-recycle-week-theme/ [Accessed September 2021]
Oliver Franklin-Wallis (Aug 2019) htps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/17/plastic-recycling-myth-what-really-happens-your-rubbish, Guardian Online [Accessed Aug 2020]
Laurie Clarke, (Aug 2019) https://www.wired.co.uk/article/recycling-myths-busted, Wired Online/Science, [Accessed September 2021]
WRAP, https://www.recyclenow.com/recycling-knowledge/5-top-tips-reduce-contamination, Recyclenow.com [Accessed September 2021]
WRAP, https://www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with/plastic-tubes, recyclesnow.com [Accessed August 2021]
Dr Adam Read, external affairs director, SUEZ Recycling & Recovery UK (2018), Quality and the need to manage contamination, letsrecycle.com, [Accessed September 21]
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Let customers speak for us
from 790 reviewsA nice plastic free alternative that's hygienic and long lasting. Nice appropriately sized scoop end to get into the glass jar with ease and ensure you get the right amount of paste on your brush, plus the narrower handle end is good to use in the smaller travel size tins. It also makes a good tongue scraper!
I've used mouthwashes in the past that feels like they're going to burn my tongue off...this one is much milder, especially as you can dilute it a bit with water but still freshens the mouth and does the job. No nasty plastic container, nice natural ingredients!
I read some people see big differences within only a few days of use. I thought I'd give it a bit longer before adding my review. I have a condition and it comes with fragile tooth enamel and high sensitivity. Most toothpastes are too strong, too abrasive, only offer comfort for a few days use. I also hate waste and difficult to recycle/reuse traditional toothpaste packaging. A week in using truthpaste and I'm extremely satisfied with the outcome. Vastly reduced sensitivity so far and nice clean teeth! Spatula that came with my pack can also serve as a handy tongue scraper! No more plastic waste...a lovely little jar that's recyclable, but I'll be keeping for storing things in. I like the handy travel sized tins too. So far...so good. Thanks Truthpaste!
This toothpaste in combination with my Suri toothbrush is perfect
Really like this toothpaste, leaves my teeth feeling really clean with a nice freshness. I have tried tooth powder and tables but so far this is so much better.
Great product and feels safe to trust truthpaste for providing quality ingredients .
Like a mouth spa every time! No more pain and bleeding.. great at disinfecting and cleaning… really is so botanical.. I love it! It’s my go to toothpaste now.
After seeing adverts on social media I decided to try Truthpaste. The fact that it's fluoride free - the healthier option, it was worth a try. Anyway, love it. The peppermint & wintergreen has a really fresh taste & prefer the jar & spatula to a tube of toothpaste. I also bought the mouthwash which leaves your mouth feeling fresh & the charcoal floss is a great improvement on shop bought floss. I was so impressed, I put my second order in & my husband is now converted.
Very surprised how quickly my mouth improved teeth and gums lesd sensitive excellent stuff have recommended it to others already.
Have been using this for a couple of weeks now and it’s amazing. It tastes and smells good, and it has a brilliant texture. Definitely will be ordering more.
Quality Product, which contains natural ingredients which is needed when using a substance when cleaning one's teeth, and its very refreshing to know this product is all natural and inexpensive, and the jar above lasts for at least couple of months...! Very satisfied customer that's for sure, thank you "Truthpaste" The truth is always in the wording 🙏🙏
Excellent product. Does what it says and at a very reasonable price.
This toothpaste is wonderful. I've tried natural toothpastes in the past which have tasted awful and I've not felt that my teeth, or mouth were clean and fresh enough.
You need a tiny bit of this paste so it will last a long time and it tastes fresh and leaves the mouth tingly clean!
I absolutely love it and highly recommend you try it. 👍😊
Where has this tooth paste been all my life?! I love everything about it. The fresh natural taste, how clean my teeth feel including reduction in plaque buildup and the packaging. It's all win win win!
I purchased the bundle after reading all about it.. Initially I tried it & thought I had been sucked in to good marketing, put it in the cupboard and told myself not to be so gullible. I kept receiving emails for me to review the product and how important honest reviews were. This made me think they do genuinely believe in this toothpaste etc and I should give it a chance. How glad I did, after 7 days my teeth felt super clean, whiter, less sensitive but most of all my whole mouth felt calmer. I now truly recommend this product and definitely give it at least a week and trust the process,
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